Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman praised the living root bridges of Meghalaya as a global example of sustainable living and traditional ecological knowledge during her visit to Siej Village in East Khasi Hills district.
“For over a hundred years, you have maintained a culture that respects nature and fosters sustainable mobility — even finding ways to connect across rivers without violating the living trees,” Sitharaman said during her interaction with village elders, local leaders, and beneficiaries of the Payment for Ecosystem Services programme, which the World Bank, KFW, and ADB support.
The initiative, she said, is helping protect age-old ecological practices followed by indigenous communities.
Nature-Aligned Innovation
Calling the living root bridges a “shining example” of how traditional knowledge can offer global solutions, the finance minister added: “At a time when the world is searching for sustainable solutions, the people of Siej have shown what is possible through simple, nature-aligned practices.”
She emphasized how the bridges, formed by trained aerial roots of rubber trees, grow naturally over time without harming their environment, embodying survival and adaptation rooted in respect for nature.
Heritage And Global Recognition
The minister lauded the community’s efforts to document the heritage and apply for UNESCO recognition for the living root bridges.
“Recognition is not for showing off, but for showing the world that you did it first,” she remarked. “Your practices are not only effective — they’re replicable. Global recognition will help inspire others.”
Sitharaman also commended the village elders who have safeguarded and nurtured the bridges for decades, describing their work as “inspirational” and a living example of coexistence with nature.
She said the community’s values reflected Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a sustainable lifestyle: “The living root bridges of Meghalaya are living proof that our indigenous people are already realising such a vision.”
Vibrant Villages Programme
Later, the finance minister visited Sohbar, a scenic border village in East Khasi Hills, under the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP). Emphasizing the strategic importance of border regions, she said, “These are the eyes and ears of our nation, and they deserve priority development.”
She announced four key development areas for Sohbar:
– Better roads
– Digital and telecom connectivity
– TV coverage
– Access to electricity
She said the second phase of VVP is now extending to eastern border areas, including Meghalaya.
–Input IANS
